SGEU says a recent public health order directed at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre in Prince Albert is putting staff and inmates at risk.

The province declared a covid-19 outbreak at the facility on May 23.

The press release states that the Government of Saskatchewan chose to include staff at correctional and young offender facilities in the same age-based vaccination plans as the general public delaying the vaccinations of some inmates and correctional staff.

Barry Nowoselsky, chair of the SGEU bargaining unit which represents provincial correctional staff says, “These are essential workers who can’t work from home – they have no choice but to report to work everyday where they are exposed to COVID-19, which they may bring home to their families and communities.”

Pine Grove Correctional Centre currently has 185 staff at the centre as well as 185 inmates.